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I was making my “Wonder Goo” run the other day, it’s this super store with video games, DVDs, books, and all kinds of other cool stuff. As I was walking through the store, being the nerd boy that I am, I stopped because I saw a cool-looking X-Men First Class, DVD display. I watched some […]

No matter how you stir it, slice it or serve it, more often than not, teaching public school is a full-time job. So your school becomes like a second home of sorts. This is true whether you’re teaching in the U.S. or teaching in Japan. Spending lots of time at your school means that you’ll […]

彫刻の森美術館ちょうこくのもりびじゅつかんThe Open-Air Museum Hakone, Japan 2011 I enjoyed every single thing about my trip to Hakone (except for losing my camera’s memory card, but I found it so, no harm, no foul). The two main things that really stand out in mind, though, are staying at an authentic ryokan for the first time and visiting […]

Summer is upon us here in the land of Rising, Scorching, Hot Sun. That endearing, humid heat that’s oh so characteristic of Japanese summer is starting. Granted is not as bad as it’s going to get, but we’ve had a couple of those “more humid than normal” days already. Today, it rained ever so lightly, […]

This may be a little late, but I still think it will be very useful info for some of you. I have gotten quite a few emails asking about the new Japanese residency management system for foreigners along with the Alien Registration Cards (ARCs). A fellow teacher of mine recently did a visa renewal and […]

You know what singing group has been making lots of Japanese news fairly recently? I’ll give you a hint (cue the candy, J-pop music) “I want you…I need you…I love you…” Still don’t know? Okay so maybe not everyone reading this may not be familiar with the group, but it’s AKB48, and there has been […]

Living abroad is a thrilling experience, it’s one of those things I will forever look back on as something that truly changed my life for the better. Getting here initially can be quite daunting for some, I know it was for me. Sometimes just not being able to make heads or tails of things can […]

Having a chance to visit the U.S., even though it was just a week, really made me think about how different my life is here in Japan. Different doesn’t necessarily mean better or worse…just different. This spawned the idea to create an article series showing some of the differences between being in Japan and being […]

Let’s continue our list of 100 Japanese verbs you should know. I wanted to break this list down into manageable pieces, so if you haven’t read Part 1 of this article, please do so. I hope you find these verbs useful. In a later article series I will delve into the basics of how to […]

I’ve never been much of an alcohol drinker. Truth be told I tasted beer for the very first time when I was 28 years old, when I came to Japan…and I hated the taste. Sorry, no offense to those of you who do drink. A buddy of mine said that a lot of people don’t […]

I’m sure the “terd burger” is probably the weirdest Japanese news story this week, maybe even this year. Wait. What? You didn’t hear about it? Okay, well thanks (or no thanks) to the miracles of modern science, apparently there is a Mr. Ikeda, a Japanese scientist, who has found a way to pull the proteins […]

Having a chance to visit the U.S., even though it was just a week, really made me think about how different my life is here in Japan.  Different doesn’t necessarily mean better or worse…just different.  This spawned the idea to create an article series showing some of the differences between being in Japan and being […]

Have you been to Akihabara before? Well Akihabara better know as Japan’s “Electric Town.” When you walk the streets of Akihabara, it’s hard to walk for ten seconds without seeing some type a major Japanese electronic store chain or an electronic mom and pop shop. There are stores that sell, plugs, connectors, and just about […]

(There is a brief video included at the bottom of this post) Did I tell you that I got my visa renewed? Well I am pleased to report that on November 8th, 2010, I received an extension for my Japan, work visa. This means that, if I choose, I can stay in Japan until January […]

What is Obon? お盆は何ですか？ Vacation-lovers rejoice! Tis the time for one of Japan’s longest “breaks.” Well I guess I don’t really want to call Obon a break, but for many foreigners that’s exactly what it is. For Japanese natives, though, Obon has a slightly different meaning. Obon* is one of Japan’s most well-known holidays. It […]